Page 36 of Robert

Carlette poured coffee into two mugs and handed her a plate of sugar cookies. “You could do with some fattening up.” Taking the cup between her palms, she eyed the younger woman. “Robert Faulkner.” She sighed theatrically and patted her chest. “I had no idea you knew him.”

“We went to high school together.”

“I had no idea he went to that fancy high school of yours.”

“He did.”

“I read in a magazine somewhere that he was dirt poor.”

“He was.” She sipped the strong coffee and avoided her friend’s eyes.

“So, he was never in your league.”

She looked up at the woman and felt the shame of that settling inside her chest. What right had her to ask him for a favor. She had not been part of the group that bullied him and made his life a living hell, but she had been with the boy who had led the pack and did nothing.

“No.” She admitted quietly.

“Hmm. I was in high school where I was teased and taunted because of my weight.” She shook her head. “I was fat shamed so many times that I got used to it. I can just imagine what that poor man went through. But he sure showed them by becoming one of the richest men in the world. I bet he could buy and sell all of them now.”

“You’re right.” She was feeling sick inside as she thought about it. How he must have suffered back then. She recalled the conversations they had about his past. It was obvious, he did not want to talk about it, because it was too painful.

“He’s a better man than all of them and fought to achieve a lot.”

“Honey, a hell of a lot. Please make sure I get to meet him. I am an admirer.”

They chatted a few more minutes, before she headed up to her office.

*****

Before she could decide whether to call him or not, he beat her to it. She had been so swamped when she got in that she hadn’t been able to think of nothing else but work. She was about to take a break for lunch when he called.

“Robert! I was about to….”

“I am on my way out of town.” His voice was terse, and he sounded hurried.

“Oh!” Leaning back in the chair, she could not help but wonder at the feeling of disappointment she was experiencing at his announcement. “I see.”

“The company is in the process of acquiring a soybean factory and the negotiations are stalling. I am on my way to Illinois to sort things out.”

“May I ask how long you’ll be gone?”

“About a week, less if I can manage to sort things out quickly. If you need me for anything, just call. See you when I get back.”

That was it. Nothing more but the dial tone in her ear.

But what had she expected? She thought wearily. She had sent him away and he happened to be a very busy man. And he had a business to run, a very important business.

Talks of soybean factories and the many and varied acquisitions was what he was all about. He was not a simple man with a nine to five job. He was the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. What did she expect? That he would be available to her whenever she wanted him?

She looked up at the sound just inside the doorway and saw her assistant coming towards her with several files.

Forcing a smile, she urged the woman forward.

“Please tell me those are the confirmations we have been waiting for. I just spoke with Craig, and he told me he would get back to me.” With a sigh, she reached for the files.

“You would think I am asking for millions.”

“You are shaming stodgy dried-up bankers and people who had seen the needs of those children and done nothing about it.” Gloria had left a very lucrative executive position in a well-known firm to join hands and hearts with her.

---